WASHINGTON — Major corporations in water-guzzling industries such as clothing, food, beverage and technology want to be better stewards of the freshwater they use — especially as drought, floods and other extreme weather intensified by climate change threaten their supply chains. But of 72 companies ranked by a sustainability nonprofit over the past year, few are close to achieving their 2030 targets.
Ceres said the companies were chosen from the four sectors based on factors including size and their impact on water. They were ranked based on a variety of factors, including commitments to protect the quantity and quality of the water they use, as well as the ecosystems that supply it. They were also assessed on whether they helped improve access to water and sanitation in communities where they do business.
But the company didn't say how likely it was to reach that target, nor how much progress it has made. Coca-Cola also said manufacturing its product isn't where most of its water footprint lies; rather, it's in growing what goes into it. Tech companies like Amazon and Apple, meanwhile, need large amounts of water to cool the computers in their sprawling data centers. Both companies checked in below 20% progress toward their goals. The report didn’t detail companies' performances on the various indicators.
Mary Jane Melendez, the company's chief sustainability global impact officer, said 85% of the company's water use is in agriculture. And extreme weather in the U.S. has affected the company in recent years.